Would love to learn weddings or portraits for an extra income

[november]

Most of my work is landscape, nature photography and love to do some food photography as well.
To make a few dollars, I consider to learn more about portrait or wedding photography. (Well, we all did some portraits or a friend's wedding but that does not make you a professional.) There is a good quality school that gives courses in portraits and weddings (not an online courses, but weekly classes which seem to me very interesting!
There is nothing wrong with making a few extra dollars with good equipment and passion for photography. It would be just a nice on-the-side job besides my fulltime job. What would you recommend?
Is wedding photography already swamped by many (although if you are unique and outstanding there should be a market.....I would love to do it different is just my idea) or is portrait photography the way to go? Maybe it is a difficult or weird question or it is totally personal. In my case, I never did anything either in portraits or weddings but I would love to learn the skills.
(Like I started, I am passionate for food photography as well but this seems a totally different market and how to get into that?)

[Niresangwa]

what's your full time job?

[eBomb]

It seems you are passionate about photography, but I would figure out first what aspect you really love and concentrate on that. Then try to find someone who you could shadow, or work for to learn more about that market. If it is wedding photography, maybe offer to be a second photographer for a local photographer. especially if you are looking to do this as a side job, I would suggest hooking up with an already established photographer. Someone who who already has the framework down and perhaps is looking to expand their business.

Hope maybe this helps or gives you some ideas.

[Jim Bryant]

What do you define as good equipment? Entry level dSLR's with kit lenses or the ones that wedding and portrait photographers use?

Both the wedding and portrait markets are swamped by all those out with digital cameras wanting to make money in addition to their full time jobs. Some are good, but most don't own the necessary cameras and fast lenses to capture the necessary images in low light conditions as some pastors don't allow flash photography.

It's not the good equipment that takes the money shots. It's the skilled photographer with wedding/portrait experience. You can always contact a portrait/wedding photographer in your area to see if you can become a second shooter in order to gain the necessary experience. Also go to a book store and check out the vast selection of books on wedding and portrait photography, that should give you some insight as to what to be expected of when landing those types of job.

[november]

To answer a few questions from all three that responded here; I work fulltime as an insurance agent -that explains the 'need' for creativity ;-)
Talking about being passionate, I really admire and appreciate high quality food photos like cook books and magazines. I would love to learn that kind of photography but maybe this is not in such high demand as other areas. It is the question from a co-worker to make some portraits from her family that started me thinking; hm....maybe I should learn something about portraits or weddings?
To answer Jim what is good equipment, I think that most hobbyists/amateurs think that their entry level cameras are professional. I agree, or better I admit, mine is not that what portrait or wedding photographers use, but I am not there yet.I just started to think in that area. And thats why I posted this threat. Yes, I started with a Nikon D90 but over the years and getting more experience, I might want to invest in a newer camera, a few 2.8 lenses, all depends on what I really want to do.

[OsmosisStudios]

Originally Posted by november

I agree, or better I admit, mine is not that what portrait or wedding photographers use, but I am not there yet.I just started to think in that area. And thats why I posted this threat. Yes, I started with a Nikon D90 but over the years and getting more experience, I might want to invest in a newer camera, a few 2.8 lenses, all depends on what I really want to do.

You don't need super-expensive equipment to do portraits, though weddings do usually require some of the higher end stuff. Portraits are all about control and how you manipulate your subject, your camera, and, most importantly, your light.

[Jim Bryant]

Insurance agent does seem like a non so creative profession. I feel your pain!
Food photography is a specialized market that's hard to break into, then again it's not all that impossible either.

Just keep taking pictures and gain the necessary experience to take it to the next level. I'd still check with wedding photographers in your area, that might need an extra eye one day.

[autofocus]

I agree with everything the other posters have already said. I'd also like to add that there is little or no pressure in shooting landscapes or even food photography. However, weddings, events and some portrait work is a whole other can of worms...for the most part, nothing but pressure. It's not only all the equipment you'll need, but how and what you do with it that matters. None the least, a lot of patience and a gifted eye for composition are minimal requirements. Organizational skills, crowd control, adverse shooting conditions...you are not only dealing with the public (which can always be tough) but also with a very personal service..these are just some of the things you will be faced with. Shoot 1000 - 1500 shots at a wedding..? better be prepared to spend a lot of time behind the computer working on your edits.
Sorry about this not so rosy picture, but that's reality in the wedding and portrait business.

[november]

Originally Posted by autofocus

I agree with everything the other posters have already said. I'd also like to add that there is little or no pressure in shooting landscapes or even food photography. However, weddings, events and some portrait work is a whole other can of worms...for the most part, nothing but pressure. It's not only all the equipment you'll need, but how and what you do with it that matters. None the least, a lot of patience and a gifted eye for composition are minimal requirements. Organizational skills, crowd control, adverse shooting conditions...you are not only dealing with the public (which can always be tough) but also with a very personal service..these are just some of the things you will be faced with. Shoot 1000 - 1500 shots at a wedding..? better be prepared to spend a lot of time behind the computer working on your edits.
Sorry about this not so rosy picture, but that's reality in the wedding and portrait business.

Not so rosy picture? It is! Oh that actually sounds even more exciting! I agree, landscape or product photography has no pressure. Did not even realize that. Honestly, i am at my best working under pressure, organizing and I have great customer skills (as they say...) Sounds like the right package to start with. The local photography school offers many courses starting in January. I might register for a Portrait or Wedding Photography Course, although with everyone's advice and experience here it leads me more into the direction of the wedding business.

[inkista]

Just to test your resolve, you might wanna watch a coupla episodes of Bridezillas and see if you're still eager to go.